Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1887-03-08
DAILY POSTIMTELLIGENCER
HExEE wAED sEEcHEE-


Tbs announcement that Henry Ward
Beecher has reached the end Of bis long
and noteworthy career. that be has
been stricken By an illness from Which
be cannot TesoysF, and that be IL even
nov at the point Of deAsh--OF, before
these lines are read, may be dead-will
be received With genuine sorrow By TIE
American psopIs, Of the highest intel
lsesual type Of whom be has long been
regarded as a representative Many
who have reached middle age canRo,
recall time When the name Of HenTy
Ward Beeehsr was not almost a. f.
mtiiaE In the homes Of America 81 that
of the father Of bis country himself
Ne other minister Of the gospel has
ever acquired sach q bold upon the
great bsdy Of the American people, and
none other has occupied suoh an ex-
allied position for 90 long time, al
Beecher. The representative Of =
AaAaAly AtahiH4AAsnel ADH AbhI1f Nie-
qaepce and originality. be was early
recognized as the anquestioaed leader
Of the pulpit orators Of the United
States, and the impression produced BY
bis sarly eloqnenee has only been deep
sHed and confirmed By the lapse Of
time.
In Mr.. BeeebeF's long career a. q pub
lie speaker. the most trying. a. veil a.
the most triumphant, episode was his
appeal to the English people In behalf
Of the causs Of the Union during the
darkest hours OF the Rebellion. The
feeling Of hostility toward the United
States among the people Of England.
which they had never taken great pains
10 conceal, was more and msrs openly
expressed az Confederate victories
seemed 10 make certain dissolution Of
the Union, until IL almost seemed that
the Intervention Of Great Britain in be
half OF she South was inevitable. When
the feeling in England ran highest and
the olamoF for intervention WAS loudest
&c was announced that Henry Ward
BeecheF would deliver four addresses in
England In behalf Of the Union cause.
The announcement was received With a
mingled feeling Of resentment against
the speaker aRd his cause and admira-
ton At the boldness Of bis undertaking.
de vas fairly boarding the lion Ia its
den.
His addresses, delivered before sud-
ences intensely hostile 10 bis cause,
we're dispassionate, logical and con
vineinR, and they eIerted 3 vide infiu.
enoe upon the English people. The
value OF the services which Mr.. Beeoher
thus rendered bis country cannot be
overestimated. What the result might
have been bad not the English war
fever been checked by the calm. con
vincinR words Of the American orator,
10 Is useless to speculate.
Beecher was not. however, renowned
81 an orator alone He would have had
vide reputation a. a writer, even II be
had never entered the pulpit or given
uttsranoe TO words OF eloquenee
Though his efforts a. a writer Of fiction
were never received with much favor by
the public, his powerful editorial arRu
msnts and comments on current events
have ever been regarded az master
pieces. and bis wsrks of historical
and philosophical character have beer
generally accepted ~ standards
Intellectually, Mr.. Beecher has had
few equals among his contemporaries
he was q keen, logical, inoisive thinker
and until advancing years had some
what weakened his great powers, b,
chose and maintained with vigor the
right side Of every public question. II,
was among the foremost Of the anti
slavery leaders and be had a great
share in moulding and solidifyine that
public sentiment in the North whict
formed The impreRnable defense OF the
Natien aud against which the massed
forces OF treason threw themselves ia
savage onslaught in vain. In the
politics, literature and thought Of his
country for almost half century,
Henry Ward Beecher has occupied a
prominent place, and his death will be
81 sincerely mourned by his country.
men as would that of any living
American.
What the warriors hand can seize,
what the tongue Of eloquenee or the
pen OF genius can Win, what the builder
can build, what the reaper can reap
there Ia lean fellow Erasps i, all At last.